Lenny's Podcast: Product | Career | Growth

Alex Komoroske, a strategic leader with a rich background at Google and Stripe, shares his insights on product development by advocating a 'gardening' mindset over a 'building' one. He highlights the importance of nurturing innovation and fostering open communication within teams, comparing organizational dynamics to the adaptability of slime molds. Alex also discusses the significance of reflection for personal growth and how AI will reshape product creation, urging teams to embrace the 'adjacent possible' for incremental success.

In this discussion with Benjamin Lauzier, an experienced product and growth leader from Lyft and Thumbtack, listeners gain insights into the intricacies of building successful marketplaces. He shares strategies for balancing supply and demand during the early growth stages and emphasizes the importance of measuring liquidity to ensure ongoing engagement. Lauzier also contrasts the dynamics of product management in the U.S. versus Europe, illustrating lessons from notable platforms. Plus, he introduces his new health tech venture, Nura, which aids users in navigating health care.

Tamar Yehoshua, the President of Product and Technology at Glean, brings her wealth of experience from Slack, Google, and Amazon to discuss essential lessons in product leadership. She shares insights on building strong cross-functional relationships, emphasizing collaboration with engineers for effective product development. Tamar delves into the transformative role of AI in tech, advocating for embracing new tools for enhanced productivity. She also reflects on leadership principles from industry giants like Jeff Bezos while encouraging flexibility in career growth in today's fast-paced landscape.

Tal Raviv, a seasoned product manager and former co-founder of a profitable SaaS company, shares his unique journey as an individual contributor. He discusses the rise of 'super ICs' and the support they need to thrive in their roles. Tal emphasizes the fulfillment he finds in staying an IC rather than moving into management, and offers insights on using AI to boost productivity. He also shares strategies for building self-reliant teams and lessons learned from his career, balancing professional growth with personal satisfaction.

Eli Schwartz, a leading SEO consultant and author of Product-Led SEO, shares his insights on the evolution of SEO in the AI era. He discusses how businesses must adapt their strategies for keyword research, emphasizing mid-funnel tactics and understanding user intent. Eli highlights the need to treat SEO as a product while debunking common myths. He also explores the impact of recent legal challenges on Google's dominance and how younger generations are shifting away from traditional search engines toward social media for information.

Camille Fournier, author of 'The Manager’s Path' and former CTO at Rent the Runway, shares her wealth of experience in tech leadership. She discusses the common frustrations engineers have with product managers, like communication breakdowns and misallocated credit. Camille offers insights on avoiding major rewrites in software, the transition from engineer to manager, and the importance of clear collaboration with platform teams. She also emphasizes striking a balance between effective management and personal well-being, topped off with tips for new managers.

Phyl Terry, author of "Never Search Alone" and CEO of Collaborative Gain, shares invaluable insights for job seekers. He emphasizes the importance of not navigating the job market alone and introduces job search councils as supportive communities. Phyl discusses determining your candidate-market fit, conducting a listening tour, and practical negotiation tactics to stand out. He highlights the power of collaboration and peer support in enhancing career growth, encouraging listeners to embrace vulnerability and seek help during their journey.

Tomer Cohen, Chief Product Officer at LinkedIn, discusses the platform's exciting evolution into an AI-first space. He shares insights on transforming LinkedIn's feed into a dynamic content hub and his impactful mantra, "We might be wrong, but we're not confused." Tomer emphasizes the importance of conviction in product leadership and the value of clarity in team dynamics. He also explores strategies for embracing AI in product development, the significance of personal strengths, and how passion drives impactful innovation. Tune in for a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at LinkedIn!

Sean Ellis, a pioneering growth expert who coined 'growth hacking,' shares invaluable insights on measuring product-market fit with his renowned Sean Ellis Test. He discusses strategies for improving user activation and retention rates, and selecting North Star metrics that reflect genuine customer value. Listeners gain wisdom from his experiences at Dropbox and beyond, understand how user feedback drives product success, and explore the evolving landscape of growth strategies in the age of AI.

Vlad Loktev, a former GM at Airbnb and now a Partner at Index Ventures, shares insights from his decade-long journey in product management. He discusses why chaos can spark innovation, emphasizing the need for inquiry over advocacy. Vlad highlights the importance of prioritizing impactful work, strategic leadership, and the balance of speed and quality in product releases. His reflections on Brian Chesky’s leadership style and the significance of fostering a supportive company culture provide valuable lessons for founders navigating growth and change.